Tuesday-6:15am

I know.  I am not usually up this early.  Been a whole week since we've chatted, so grab a cuppa.  ;)  

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Woke up at 4:30am and could not get back to sleep so I finally gave up.  Up before dawn for once.  Was a misty morning with a low blue cloud bank.  So humid that the windows were wet with condensation.  (Probably why I was so sore I couldn't sleep.)

Then the sun rose and has been dissipating the low fog. 

We've had some beautiful days this past week with lots of interesting clouds against blue skies... 

...blanketed skies and even thunderstorms. 

We've had clouds racing across the sky...

...and a mix of wispy and fluffy clouds meandering. 

The swallows are joyously dipping and soaring.  They take such delight in a windy day and keep Miss Karma entertained. 

 When Twinkle-Toes is not sleeping, of course.

"Oh, please...leave me be." 

The sun hits different spots during the warmer months.  Karma's been catching rays inside... 

...and outside. 

And stealing my spot on the porch chair as soon as I pack up my book and go inside. 

No art again this week.  *sigh*  This diet has literally taken over my life!  Although in this picture I was doing morning journaling and letter writing. 

On the 4th day I could have one cup of coffee in the mornings.  So, for all of you over at Elizabeth's at T-Stands For Tuesday, I got out my favorite big old mug (pre-thermal mug days) and this has been my companion every morning.  I can't use the thermal mug because it takes too long to drink--LOL!  I have way to much water to drink every day in short periods of time and coffee doesn't count in your water total. 

But tea does.  So I have been getting out my few old mugs I haven't used for years for cups of tea. 

Honestly...The Plan has not been easy for me...at all.  Now granted, I grew up in a household where basically the only spices were salt and pepper...and pepper was way too hot for me.  I only used salt on fried eggs and vegetables...if I even remembered.  We had lots of potatoes--covered with butter, gravy, or cheese sauce. (Au-gratin are still my favorite!)  We had broccoli and cauliflower floating in cheese sauce.  Green beans, corn, and carrots dripping in butter.  (I never liked carrots --hardly took any--none if I could get away with it--and by the time I am done with with them in The Plan I may never want to see another carrot as long as I live...unless it's covered in brown sugar glaze or cheese or something--LOL!)  Fruit was apples and bananas.  (My mom was really the more adventurous eater who liked peaches and beets and such.) 

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We had bread with meals most of the time and a tall glass or two of milk.  Meat and potatoes type of cooking...and lots of hotdishes (or casseroles, as they are known in other parts of the country).  I remember thinking french style green beans were exotic--LOL!  Our goulash was hamburger, pasta, and Campbell's tomato soup--that's it.  Nothing else.  Plain, plain cooking when I was a kid.  I remember being in Home Ec class in high school and finding out about Italian Seasoning!  I talked mom into buying a bottle and our goulash was forever changed.

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It took me years before I could eat broccoli or cauliflower without the cheese sauce (only glistening with butter).  I don't remember ever seeing garlic cloves until I was in my 20s.  Never tried to use it in cooking or actually eat it until I was in my 40s maybe.  Still can only use minute, minute amounts.  Way to strong for me--but keep in mind, I don't even like carrots because they are not team players.  They are so strong and overpower everything else (which actually came in handy eating the raw carrots and beets--LOL!).

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Okay.  I already have IBS, right?  That is THE reason I am doing this diet--to get rid of inflammation and the IBS.  But the diet with all its seeds and alien-to-me veggies and spices...well, let's just say maybe things have to get much worse before they get better?  Please Lord, I hope that is the case.  Only time will tell. *sigh*

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I had been eating all kinds of things for multiple last hurrahs the couple of weeks before I started the diet and was up about five pounds, so it was not a surprise that the first two days of the diet I lost them.  I didn't even really count that, to be honest.  And after that...I was exactly the same...every day.  Exactly.  (Have my new digital scale, you know.)  Which doesn't really tell me if I was eating foods that were actually good when it came to the inflammation because I wasn't losing anything.  According to the book, I should be losing...even if it was .2 lb a day.  Nope.  Not me.  Nothing.  Nada.  I have remained at my "normal" weight of the past few years.  Despite all this effort and water drinking and 80% foods I am not crazy about or dislike.

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Then yesterday I gained a little.  BUT--what caused it?  Which food was the culprit?  God only knows!  If it can take up to 72 hours to react--there were half a dozen new things in three days.  (She adds a lot of new things fast in the first 20 days--but they are all the least reactive foods for the majority of people.)  If it was just the last 24 hours--well, I had four new-to-me things, I think (my bet is on dairy as the culprit).  I'll have to test the new foods from those days again, I guess.  It was a non-test day yesterday so I didn't eat anything brand new and lost again today.  Almost back to ground zero.  This is not working like the book says, that's for sure.

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If I was not "reacting" to foods weight-wise (inflammation flag) all this past week...well, I can sure tell you that my body was sure reacting!!  Was it just strange foods?  Could be.  But that makes this all very confusing to tell what is going on and which foods to eat or not eat.  If I go by my body--I shouldn't be eating any of this stuff--ROFL!  

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Oh, and eventually the light bulb went off as to why I was extra bummed about the not being able to have liquids with meals and the endless chewing.  

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Okay--some of you may remember five years ago when the side of my face swelled up and I finally had to go to a dentist (no coverage, but have had after that happened).  Found out I had an impacted wisdom tooth, badly abscessed molar next to it, a cyst, and my jawbone was literally disintegrating.  Had to have surgery where they removed both teeth and had to shave down my jawbone and give me some kind of bone transplant (took me five years to pay that off).  They were absolutely, totally flabbergasted that I hadn't noticed the pain.  But I explained to them that I hurt all over--all the time--and my back (disintegrating spine) hurt worse than my jaw ever had.  Besides which my jaw is bone-on-bone from arthritis so it hurts all the time regardless.  I really do sound like I have fallen apart, don't I?  LOL!

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Well, from chewing and chewing and chewing 3 to 3 1/2 hours a day just to finish these "dry" meals...well, my jaw finally hurts worse than my back--ROFL!! 

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I've lost chewing teeth on the one side to boot!  

Lordy!  Lordy!  

You just have to laugh.

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But I was not laughing yesterday morning.

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This diet has been almost like having the flu.  Diarrhea coming and going, aching all over (as usual), stomach rolling and queasy (which it does after most of these meals).  But yesterday I hadn't even eaten the flax granola yet, my stomach was dancing, and the diarrhea decided to show up as soon as my feet hit the floor.  I knew it was going to be another BBD (bad bathroom day) and I wasn't going to be able to go over to Leah's to help her clean and organize the baby's things.  Was so bummed.  I've been waiting for this week with great anticipation because Leah said she'd come and get me every day if I wanted.  I'd gained for the first time and had no clue what caused it because I had too many new things.  The Plan hasn't been working like it is supposed to for me...the IBS has been worse since I started instead of better...I felt just totally defeated and fed up.  Almost cried.

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  I am not a cryer. 

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I did whine to Leah on the phone for over half an hour, though.  :( 

(Sorry, Leah.) 

Couldn't face another bowl of flax seeds.  

Skipped breakfast.

Had a second cup of black coffee for comfort food.

(First time I cheated on The Plan--could have been much worse.) 

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I can assure you, I was feeling immensely sorry for myself.  

Then the mailman called me down for a package?  Wasn't expecting anything.  (Luckily he called right after I had been in the bathroom so I was good for a few minutes--LOL!) 

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Here there was a package from Tracey Fletcher King!! 

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Now Tracey had mentioned a while back that she had a little something for my birthday, but she hadn't been able to get to the post office.  OMG!!!  I told her not to even think about my silly birthday!!  Good Lord!!  Those of you who follow Tracey know she's gone through the worst many months of surgeries, aggressive chemo and radiation--just finished up and is slowly regaining her strength and healing and growing her hair back.  She's a talented artist living in Australia with a brilliant, clever daughter who just started college (or "university") this year, a sweetie-pie puppy, and a devoted hubby.  She retained her sense of humor and positive outlook on life throughout this entire ordeal and has been an inspiration to so many people. 

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This lady took the time to think of me?!

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I opened the package and found a little graph notebook with original artwork on the cover!  Wow!  (Yes, she LOVES tea!)  

And then I saw baby books!!  

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Well, that did me in!  

I was wiping away tears!  

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Possum Magic is an Australian storybook about a grandma possum and her gradnchild...with magic and Aussie foods for cures.  This was her daughter Phoebe's favorite when she was little.  Awww!

And The Grandmother Book is an entire book for me to fill in the blanks to tell my grandchild all about me--LOL!  From family tree to where I went to school to favorite movies.  :):) 

And then--the piece de resistance...

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I had written Tracey a letter in one of my bookcards...and she made me a bookcard!!  I have never gotten one myself.  What a treat!  The cardstock cover is a copy of her original artwork.

Brown sheets of paper sewn inside... 

...that she discovered she could only write on one side of--LOL!  Yes, that takes some experimentation (how well I know), but do you think I cared?!  :):):) 

 I loved it!  

And I was feeling so very low all morning, too.  This fabulous package arrived on the absolute perfect day.   Thank you Tracey and Phoebe!!  :):)

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Anyways, I have not given up on The Plan.  I still stuck with it yesterday after skipping breakfast.  My day is all off kilter this morning.  I guess it's time to have water and pills and start my day.  At least I haven't been in the bathroom yet--ROFL!  Maybe I might make it over to Leah's today.  Her best friend, Amber is there this week, too.  Leah's birthday tomorrow!  :)  Well, only time and meals will tell--LOL!  Wish me luck as I shoulder on.  At least we've suddenly had some beautiful weather in the 70s!!  I can read on the porch, if nothing else.  ;)

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Oh, and I discovered this last week that naughty Blogger had randomly sent a few of my blog comments to spam!?  I have been trying to remember to check every once in a while.  I already know that feedburner doesn't always deliver everyones blog posts to my email.  *sigh*  All I can do is try to keep up the best I can.  One way or the other, this is going to be a busy week--so I am not sure if I'll be back before next Tuesday or not.  I hope so.  And I hope I have better news on the food front...and the bathroom front--LOL!  ;)

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May you have a day with memories to last a lifetime.  :):)

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“The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.” 

Pierre Corneille